Even though I am just starting with my graduation research, I want to do some research for the fun! What could I make myself? What do you need when you’ve just graduated? And what would be a gift to use and remember for the rest of your working life?

For meeeee!

There are a few gifts that came to my mind when I set my New Years resolutions, to make a graduation gift for myself (or for others ofcourse). Selfish? Well, every once in a while you may treat yourself, don’t you think? And besides… it is not completely selfish since I will share with you all how the process will look like from start to end! Not selfish at all ;).

What a starter needs after graduation!

When you’ve just graduated, you haven’t received a big paycheck yet… So your clothes, your bag, your laptop origins somewhere from your time as a student. Though while doing your interviews for the job, they say ‘Dress for the job you want not for the job you have’ (since you don’t have one…). Well, this doesn’t end at your clothes. There are a few items that might make a good impression during your job interviews!

Leather watch straps

That watch you got for your birthday some years ago might still look good, but the straps start to be a bit smelly, old, and worn. Without the need for a new watch, you can make it look like new with a new strap. This is actually a perfect example that something does not have to be expensive to look good. Since watch straps are often quite small, you might find a small piece of good quality leather in the scrap pile of your local leather shop. Often they sell them for a good price!

Leather note pad

Alright, when you’ve chosen your clothes, and maybe even your watch strap you might want to continue the good impression. You’ve done your homework, prepared some questions but you’ve written it down on a wrinkly piece of paper… Not the impression you want to make. So what about a beautiful, classy, notepad. I’ve made one before but it might be time for version 2.0, the female version. It keeps your papers, cards, and notes organized and it shows your excellent taste for leather items as well.

Bag or briefcase

But the most perfect graduation gift would, of course, be a stylish, timeless new bag or briefcase, to take not only your note pad on a job interview but all your work-related belongings with you every day for the rest of your working life. I know, you ladies will need more than just one… So do I. They do have to match your outfits, your new coat, your shoes and whatsoever. So you better start with your collection of workbags/briefcases rather sooner than later.

Smaller leather graduation gifts

Lastly, there are a few smaller items you might think of for a graduation gift. A small leather business card holder, a lovely leather pencil case or a leather mouse pad for your new desk are of course smaller but also amazing gifts to make for yourself or for everyone close to you who graduates. To help remember the receiver of the special occation, a hot stamp or foil print of the date or some initials will make it extra special.

Which of these graduation gifts do you prefer? And what do I need the most according to you? Well, I’m looking forward to your responses!

I love those days between Christmas en NYE. There is absolutely nothing you can do besides relaxing. The perfect time to continue with the Market Basket Bag 2.0. I love the stage of the bag making process where the bag is actually getting shape and starts to look like a bag. Well, that moment was now. Let’s see what I did in the meantime.

Where did we leave off?

If you’ve missed any part up to this point, make sure to start at the beginning!! But at the last post, we’ve left off at the point that I was assembling all the pannels together. Once I had done this for both bags, which I am making at the same time, I could continue.

Next step, counting!

The next step was to count, calculate and do it ones more just to be sure. Since I pre-made the piping on the bottom of the bag, the panels should exactly meet in the middle. Sometimes you might need to lose or create extra stitches when you are working with round parts. Though due to the piping, this was not necessary with this bag.

Inside out

When you sew your bags with piping, all the stitching is done, while the bag is turned inside out. And pay attention to the piping, this should also point inwards while sewing. So you don’t see how it turns out yet. But be patient, it will look amazing.

Turning the bag

If you’ve done all the stitching of the bottom, you can turn the bag back to the right side out. This will be harder when you’ve used very stiff leather but since I’ve used woven leather, it was actually quite easy.

Out-side out

This is, for now, the last step I’m showing before I continue with the second bag. When you’ve turned your bag, the piping does not look as it should be. The leather hasn’t got the right shape, direction, and position. To improve this, you can hammer or use a flat-nose plier to give it the perfect shape you’re looking for.

A little bit more shaping and I am satisfied with the look of the market basket bag 2.0! I can’t wait to add the lining, top border, and handles (which I all still have to start on…) and see the final result!

So what’s next...?

First I add the bottom to the second bag as well. Secondly, I want to do a drop-lining with a little drop pocket as well. I am still looking for the perfect color of canvas to match the stitching thread. Thirdly, the handles need to be attached first before I attach the lining. And maybe I will also add some reinforcement to the bottom. It’s a market basket bag so you should definitely be able to carry around a whole basket full of groceries with you! And last but not least, the lining and the top of the panels will be coverd by another cognac colored piece of leather.

Happy New Year ladies and gentlemen!! I hope you’ve enjoyed the fireworks, the oliebollen (Dutch NYE treat), and your beloved ones around you. A new year, a new day, a new time to start or continue Leathercraft with enthusiasm. There will be a few changes here on Florine Leather and Style but I’ve also set myself a few new years resolutions I want to share!!

Changes on Florine Leather and Style

With this new year, I will start with my graduation for my masters. Some might not know, but I don’t study for leathercraft or any creative profession actually. It is purely a hobby. My graduation will include an intensive internship and lots and lots of writing. When I started this blog, I wanted to reach as many leather-loves as I could and started writing in English to do so. English isn’t my first language since I’m Dutch. But while writing currently counting 231 posts, I’ve tried to improve myself in Leathercraft but in writing English as well. I hope this will pay off during my year of graduation.

The only disadvantage of having an intensive graduation internship is that I’ll post one blog post a week this year. I want to reassure the quality of the posts will stay as it is (or becomes even better ofcourse ;)). I don’t want to write something to send it out into the world, just because I’ve said I would write two blog posts a week. I want to show you what I’ve learned during my leather projects, what techniques there are (although they come with a disclaimer, I am completely self-taught) and what the latest trends are for bags and other small leather items.

Traveling

A big part of this graduation internship will be abroad again. I hope this won’t influence anything on the blog and blog posts, or even enrich my knowledge and incorporate it into my writing to you. I will prepare some of the posts beforehand so I can adjust a bit to my new living situation at that time, I won’t be able to take all my tools with me, but as you might have noticed by now, I am a bit addicted to crafting. It really clears my mind. After a long week of working behind a computer, I truly enjoy working with my hands. And the best thing of all, I still notice progress in my work. The final results are more and more according to the image I’ve had in mind and become more beautiful (if I may say so).

10 New Years resolutions

To make it officially a tradition, you have to do some thing three times. This would be the third time I set myself some new years resolutions, so let’s start!

I have some old ones recyled and made some new ones as well.

Re-try on the wallet – One of my very first projects was a wallet, let’s see how much I have improved in the mean-time

Round box stitch – Let’s step it up one more level.

Get a heated edge creaser – I’ll have to save probably a whole year 😉

Cover 2 more designers – there are many more out there

Pay more attention to the inside of the bag as well – it’s not only about the outside.

Update website design – Or does it still looks up to date to you?

Make myself a graduation gift – I might need it for my first job you know 😉

Find more foreign leathercraft habits, traditions or techniques

Post more regularly on Instagram – instead of Pinterest

Cover a (small) table top with leather – I just love interiors!!

Have you set your New Years resolutions already? I am curious what 2019 will bring, it will be a year with many big changes, big challenges and hopefully big achievements. I am looking forward to it all. So 2019 here we come!

This is already the last post of the year 2018. Time has flown, so but so did the projects and the new years’ resolutions I set myself at the beginning of this year. Which ones did I tick off and which ones can be reused for next year ;)? A half year ago I already gave a little update but let’s take a look back together to 2018.

It’s been a year full of traveling, gather inspiration from everywhere and learning techniques from several places over the world. Though besides discovering the world we are living on, I’ve also tried to discover the world over leathercraft even further. To do so, I’ve set myself 10 new years resolutions:

Leathercraft New years’ resolutions of 2018:

Learn how to do piping – Those lovely piping along the edges of bags…

Re-try on the wallet – One of my very first projects was a wallet, let’s see how much I have improved in the mean-time

Learn to make a belt – finally!!

Work bag for LADIES – I’m still in my internships though they say “dress for the job you want not for the job you have… “

Integrate the blog posts more frequently on Pinterest – to find even more leather lovers

Create a new collection – a little recycling of new years resolutions?

Cover 2 designers – Let’s not set the bar too high and start with two awesome designers as inspiration

Create workbench – I think I might have found a solution for current my workplace… (a.k.a. the kitchen table…)

Improve pattern design – with my latest addition to my book collection I should be able to figure it out. Right?

Round box stitch – Let’s step it up one more level.

Well, how did I do? Let’s see:

Learn how to do piping

This is one I could already tick off a while ago. After getting into the technique of using piping along the edges I’ve tried it in the Market Basket bag 2.0. But I definitely am using this in many of my future projects as well. I love the look of the piping and once you know how to do it, you can use it endlessly.

Re-try on the wallet

This year has been crazy. And it’s even over before I got to do this project. As always I have much more ideas and to-do projects then I have time. So luckily there is a next-year’s-resolutions-list that needs some items on there.

Learn to make a belt – finally!!

Yes, finally I can tick this New Years resolution off! It’s been on my Wishlist, To do list, and New years resolution list, and not only did I learn to make a belt, but I also incorporated it in a belt-bag. With this guide you can easily figure out how to make your own and follow the DIY explanation in this post.

Work bag for LADIES

As you could have read in the half-year update I’ve worked on several work bags for ladies. I’ve made the work tote and the envelope bag and a design for a work bag for myself is ready. I’ve already got the leather for the outside but I have to find a matching leather or complementary leather for the inside. Instead of the working bag from the Boston Collection, I started this year on the basket bag 2.0 for myself. And the work bag from the Boston collection can hopefully be finished in 2019.

Integrate the blog posts more frequently on Pinterest

I know this seemed like a good idea a year ago although I am doubtful if Pinterest is the platform for me. I personally am more enthusiastic about the community on Instagram and might change this new years resolution to instagram next year.

Create a new collection

With the world at your feed, you can find your inspiration anywhere. During my stay in Boston, I gathered inspiration from buildings, the Bostonians and the history and designed a new collection. Eventually, I hope to make them all.

Cover 2 designers

Even though I set the goal to 2 designers, I thought let’s add one more. I covered Michael Kors and Chloé but most recently added Bottega Veneta as well. Knowing their inspiration, their techniques and their history behind all well-known brands makes me admire them even more.

Create workbench

Up to now, this is still a dream. I hoped I could say something else but I can’t. The renovations will have to wait a little longer, but who knows. One day… I will have my own little place.

Improve pattern design

During the year I’ve tried to improve on several aspects of my pattern designing skills. I’ve covered improving your design by gathering enough inspiration, to creating a paper version of your pattern. Definitely one to tick off.

Round box stitch

This is one of the resolutions I couldn’t complete this year. So this has to stick around for another year. A new year full of opportunities, leathercraft challenges, and many new projects. I am already looking forward to it!

6/7 out of 10 is not a bad score, don’t you think? With all the other leathercraft things I have tried, started and finished, 2018 was quite an interesting year. Let’s make 2019 an even better one, although there will be a few changes. But more on that in the next post with my new or recycled new years resolutions!

I want to thank you all, for your enthusiasm, your time to read all these posts and I wish you all a lovely new years eve! Until next year.

First of all, I want to wish you all a very merry Christmas! I’ve been quite busy in secrecy to make my Santa’s Christmas gifts this year and ofcourse I want to share with you how Santa Clause made it. This Christmas my sister received a big, rough leather cushion ofcourse made by Florine Leather and Style.

A leather cushion

My sister has been a fan of Florine Leather & Style from the very first moment. My family is rotating who gets the prototypes or who’s turn it is for a bigger project between other clients. And it was quite a while since it was my sisters turn so, a long lasting wish will this Christmas finally be fulfilled. The only thing was… she didn’t know I was making it. That’s why you couldn’t see any preparations on Instagram or inspiration on the blog. But since Santa visited us last night, I can share it now.

Baseball stitch

In a post earlier this year, I’ve learned the baseball stitch while I was in Boston. I made a baseball back then but I’ve wanted to use this stitch in a new project ever since. But I never found the perfect one. Well, with this rough leather, with scars, hot-iron numbers it would be perfect.

Big and fluffy

With the weight, the thickness and the roughness of the leather, I needed a big and fluffy cushion to make it a bit softer and more comfortable. With a feather pillow of 50×50 cm and the measurements of the leather more or less the same, it would be exactly the right amount of puffy. I’ve first sew three of the four edges together before I inserted the cushion, and sewed it in by closing the final side. You won’t be needing to wash the leather cushion cover (ever!) so I didn’t add a zipper. If for some reason it truly has to be opened, I can close it easily again.

Logo as a label

I am always scared to place a big logo on a piece of leather without ruining it. Expecialy when I am a bit tired and rushing for the christmas diner groceries I thought, let’s not take a chance. I will make a label which I can make again and again from the scraps of the leather, if it fails. And well… ofcourse the first try was perfect ;). So no time lost! A little tip and trick if you want to make your own logo’s with a hot stamp, you can dampen the leather a bit.

Well, luckily all presents are unwrapped and she is over the moon. The leather cushion will be beautiful in her home. What did you ask Santa this year for Christmas? Or did you make your beloved ones some leather goods? Looking forward to hearing all about it in the comments below!